Back to gloomy York

I'm now back in gloomy York after a wonderful sunny week in the Alps. It is great to finally have some colour and stop looking like a pasty northerner.

Returning back to normality after a week away emphasises just how much time you spend during the week dealing with emails. On return I had over 300 non-work emails, over 100 of which were GP related. Work a bit quiter with only about 100 emails over 4 days, it would have probably been triple that if I went a couple of months later.

Anyhow, off to the York Green Festival today and hoping for sun.

Rain, rain, rain

Wednesday - Rain
Thursday - Rain
Friday - A little bit of sun, then rain.

Leave for France tomorrow, in the hope of finding summer.

Listening to: Reading 08, earlier Mahler 5 at the Proms for a bit of contrast.

House of Saddam / US Presidential Election

Churchill was right, history is written by the victors. A perfect example of this has been the BBC's 'House of Saddam'. Although well written and acted, the whole programme was a half truth. It made no reference to the death and carnage caused by the so called International coalition. I can imagine when children are reading about this in history classes in the future it will be portrayed as an humanitarian intervention with little reference to any casualties caused by the shock and awe strategy and the subsequent unrest caused by the war.

And over in the US, McCain is winning in the latest poll, 46 to 41. You cannot help but wonder whether the latest Republican sabre rattling against Russia has not helped McCain's chances. Unfortunately it would not even surprise me if Bush took the US into another conflict, most probably Iran, before the end of his term, which would most likely boosy McCain's chances.

Greens support RMT

I was glad to see the following blog post from Derek Wall on the Socialist Unity site:

‘full support’ for RMT strike action in Tubelines: Green Party Trade Union Group
Green solidarity with public transport workers
Greens question Tory transport policy for London

The Green Party Trade Union Group fully supports the 1,000 Tubelines’ workers who intend to start the first of two 72-hour strikes, after the company tabled a poor offer on pay and conditions.

In line with trade union legislation, the RMT gave notice of their industrial action last Wednesday but have neither heard from Tubelines’ management, not Chief Executive Terry Morgan.

RMT members voted by a margin of three to one to take strike action over pay, pensions and travel facilities. The RMT’s general secretary. Bob Crow, has made the comparison with Metronet where workers doing exactly the same job as those who maintain track and trains for Tubelines on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines, have been offered higher pay rates, a superior pension and better travel facilities.

“While the management of Tubelines has put much effort into scapegoating the RMT in this dispute by calling their action ‘political’, they haven’t bothered to sit down and negotiate a settlement. The only guarantee of a quick resolution to this crisis is for Morgan and co to sit down with the RMT and listen to the grave concerns the RMT have about the pay settlement for their members in Tubelines.” Stated Pete Murray.

Meanwhile, the break-down in communication between the management and unions has taken another turn for the worse with the resignation of Tim Parker, Chair of Transport for London. Parker’s resignation is the third resignation, as Darren Johnson, Green GLA member stated “Tim Parker is the third key figure to resign in less than four months, reflecting the rushed nature of appointments and giving an appearance of chaos in the new administration. Londoners deserve a
better deal from the man they have entrusted to run their city.”

Principal Speaker Dr Derek Wall said of RMT’s Bob Crow ‘Buy the man a drink’.

http://www.socialistunity.com/?p=2739

After New Labour's betrayal of trade unions it is time trade unionists started looking elsewhere for a party which will support their claims for decent pay offers and working conditions. Grass root trade unionists in the unions such as Unite and Unison also need to start questioning why they are bank rolling a Labour party which treats them with contempt.

The Green Party offers an alternative to New Labour. Visit the Green Party Trade Union group at http://gptu.net/pssess4X/3c/hpage.shtml


Weather: Friday - Tuesday rain, rain and more bloody rain. Cannot wait for my escape to France, the weather looks a lot nicer in Morzine

Listening to: Metallica

Questionnaire

Total Politics has interviewed the two candidates from Green leader, Ashley Gunstock and Caroline Lucas. Weggis has now answered the questions on his blog, and I will now follow suit:


Q1. Why did you get involved in the political world?
A1. 2002, I was very angry about the proposed war on Iraq

Q2. When did you join The Green Party?
A2. 2005 after becoming disillusioned with RESPECT

Q3. What is your earliest political memory?
A3. The Miner's strike

Q4. Which one law would you repeal?
A4. 42 days

Q5. Which one law would you introduce?
A5. A maximum wage

Q6. What’s your favourite view in the world?
A6. River Derwent in Elvington

Q7. What’s your favourite political quotation?
A7. "Our objective is complete freedom, justice and equality by any means necessary." Malcolm X

Q8. What music gets you up to dance?
A8. Cheesy pop

Q9. If you could have been present at any debate in the House of Commons over the last three hundred years, which would it have been, and why?
A9. The debate on the vote to go to war with Iraq

Q10. Imagine you are planning a dinner party, pick six people (living or dead) to invite.
A10. Leon Trotsky, Stephen Fry, Judy Garland, Armistead Maupin, Mark Steel, Hugo Chavez

Q11. Who is your best friend in politics?
A11. Most of my friends are less political than me

Q12. What’s your favourite form of transport?
A12. Train (when its not too crowded)

Q13. What’s your favourite dish?
A13. Pizza

Q14. Do you have any phobias?
A14. Wasps

Q15. What do you dream about?
A15. Bizarre randomness

Q16. When did you last cry, and why?
A16. Can't remember, quite a while ago

Q17. What’s the last thing you bought in a shop?
A17. A sandwich meal deal

Q18. What’s the funniest You Tube video you’ve recently seen?
A18. Clips from Robot Chicken Star Wars

Q19. What is the best speech you have ever heard (and been present at)?
A19. Probably George Galloway, even though I don't like the man

Q20. Who’s your favourite comedian?
A20. Jeremy Hardy

Q21. Have you ever cried at a film? Which one(s)?
A21. E.T.

Q22. Which is your favourite political biography or autobiography?
A22. Christopher Isherwood - Christopher and his Kind

Q23. What is your favourite novel?
A23. Armistead Maupin - Tales of the City

Q24. Name a book you have read which has failed to live up to expectations.
A24. Moby Dick

Q25. Who would you like to say sorry to, and why?
A25. No one

Q26. What job would you be doing if you weren’t involved in the political world?
A26. Comic store.

Q27. Do you have a party trick, or hidden talent?
A27. Doing Elvis on karaoke

Q28. What’s the best holiday you have been on?
A28. France 2006

Q29. Where in the world would you most like to go on holiday?
A29. San Francisco

Q30. When was the last time you used public transport?
A30. Today

Q31. When was the last time you went to the theatre and what did you see?
A31. The London revival of Cabaret

Q32. What do you collect?
A32. DVDs

Q33. What is your most unusual hobby?
A33. I think my hobbies are relatively normal

Q34. Which newspapers do you read regularly?
A34. Guardian and Morning Star on a weekend

Q35. Which websites do you visit regularly?
A35. Facebook. Far too much.

Q36. Which blogs do you love or hate?
A36. Read Derek Wall's regularly

Q37. Which magazines do you subscribe to?
A37. Economist, Time, Radio Times

Q38. Which five words would your friends use about you?
A38. Sleepy, Lush, Opinionated, Odd, Unfit

Q39. Which five words would your enemies use about you?
A39. I would hope I don't have any enemies

Q40. Are you into sport? If so, which ones?
A40. None

Q41. Which is your favourite football team and player?
A41. Don't care for football

Q42. Who is your political hero?
A42. Karl Marx

Q43. Who is your political hate figure?
A43. Norman Tebbit. Obnoxious bigoted old fool.

Q44. What’s your most memorable time in politics?
A44. 2003 anti-war march

Q45. What’s your most embarrassing moment in politics?
A45. Don't have one

Q46. What’s your prediction for the next general election?
A46. Probably the Tories, doubt it will make much difference.

Q47. Who is your favourite and least favourite political interviewer?
A47. Paxman - Montague.

Q48. What do you never miss on TV?
A48. Usually catch Doctor Who

Q49. Which current foreign politician do you most admire?
A49. Hugo Chavez

Q50. What do you listen to/watch when you get up in the morning?
A50. Today programme

Q51. Complete this sentence: The thing I hate about politics is...
A51. people who are in it to server their own interests

Q52. Complete this sentence: The thing I love about politics is...
A52. the chance to make a difference

Q53. What would you like your political epitaph to be?
A53. Meh

Bush the hypocrite - part II

Last week I was commenting on Bush's hypocrisy commenting on China's human rights abuses. Just a week later we are now faced with yet more sickening displays of double standards from Dubya.

His full speech can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080815.html. I will highlight a few of the worst parts here:

"The United States and our allies stand with the people of Georgia and their democratically elected government. Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected."

The United States were notably quiet in condemning the attempted overthrow of democratically elected Hugo Chavez in 2002. They also supported the overthrow of democratically elected Allende in the 1973 Chilean coup which installed dictator Pinochet. These are just two examples of the US's constant interference in the affairs of democratically elected governments.

"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."

Surely the constant belligerent rhetoric and threats towards Iran could be seen as bullying. Certainly invading Afghanistan and Iraq without a UN mandate are not only bullying but illegal under international law.

"The Cold War is over. The days of satellite states and spheres of influence are behind us."

How about the number of countries with US bases in. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_bases

At the end of the day it is the US's constant push to expand NATO to Russia's borders and the creation of missile defence system in Eastern Europe which are provoking Russia.

Russia should not be invading and occupying Georgia, but the US is by no means an innocent by-stander.

Weather: Monday - Thursday rain, today had a bit of sun.

Listening to: Foo Fighters

RIP Chef / Georgia / Leadership Ballot

It was sad to hear of Isaac Hayes death. Most younger viewers will best know him as Chef from South Park, which he unfortunately left because of their ridicule of Scientology which Hayes was a member of. Most of us do not understand how people can follow Scientology and see it as something of a sinister cult, but Hayes did work with Scientology based initiatives to help impoverished inner-city schools.

The situation is Georgia is looking grim, with Russia clearly looking like the aggressor. Georgia's enthusiasm to join NATO has probably helped provoke some of the hostilities. The question is why does NATO still exist? It was supposed to be a western alliance set up as a mutual defence pact against the Soviet Union, surely it should have disbanded once the iron wall fell. Its continuing existence and constant expansion towards Russia's border is clearly going to provoke a response.

Once again the US is doing its usual bang up job of pouring petrol onto the fire with Cheney quoted as saying aggression against Georgia "must not go unanswered."

You have to wonder whether there would be as much international interest if there wasn't an oil pipeline running through Georgia to feed the fuel hunger west?

Got my voting papers for Green Leadership and Exec today. I have cast my vote for Ashley Gunstock, who I believe is the best choice for grass roots activists. And RON got my vote for Deputy Leader.

Weather: Friday - Monday wet and bloody miserable
Listening to: Brett Anderson

Bush the hypocrite

George W Bush today condemned China saying "The US believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7546376.stm). Fair enough, no one would argue with that, but Bush has no moral authority to come out with such statements.

The US is a serial flouter of human rights and international law. Only this week the US executed Jose Medellin despite condemnation from the ICJ (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7542794.stm).

We are also still faced the hell-hole which is Guantanamo Bay, where the detainees human rights are ignored with many being incarcerated for over 7 years without the right to trial.

Perhaps Mr Bush you should get your own house in order before condemning others. Particularly the selective condemnation you apply which ignores the human rights abuses of Israel, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and many others.

Or maybe you should just shut up and spend the rest of your lame duck presidency dancing away like the monkey you are:



Weather: Rainy and overcast Monday - Wednesday. Yesterday the rain was torrential:

LGBT Greens launch petition to push Urgent review of Home Office approaches to LGBT asylum

NEWS FROM THE GREEN PARTY of England and Wales LGBT GROUP

http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/

LGBT Greens launch petition to push Urgent review of Home Office approaches to LGBT asylum
Calls for instruction, training and guidance for all asylum staff
5.8.8

Phelim Mac Cafferty, media spokesperson for LGBT Greens stated:
“After much campaigning on the issue since the cases of Iranian LGBT asylum seekers Pegah Emembakhsh and Mehdi Kazemi came to light, we have got clearance from the web team on the Prime Minister’s website for our petition.

“We now challenge the government to start treating LGBT asylum seekers with the fairness that they deserve. These are people who’ve often fled persecution, rape and torture who flee to our country and our response is to lock them up like criminals. We say enough is enough of this inhumane policy- we need to stick our necks out now and stand up for LGBT asylum seekers.”

The full text of the petition is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/lgbtasylum/ and below-

In the light of the cases of Pegah Emembakhsh and Mehdi Kazemi, Iranian LGBT asylum seekers, who sought asylum in the UK , we call upon the Prime Minister for an urgent review of the services provided for all LGBT asylum seekers. In particular we think that the following are needed for fair treatment -
1. Compulsory training for all asylum staff on sexual-orientation and trans-awareness.
2. Explicit instructions to all immigration and asylum staff, and asylum judges, that homophobic and transphobic persecution are legitimate grounds for granting asylum.
3. Clearer and up-to-date guidance from the Home Office for asylum judges to reflect the accurate scale of LGBT persecution throughout the world using expert information from NGOs like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
4. Legal-aid funding for asylum claims needs to be substantially increased.

No to dualling

The petition I set up in opposition to the one created by Julian Sturdy, Tory candidate for York Outer which called for the dualling of part of York's outer ring road closes this week.

It is no surprise that the pro-dualling petition has more support with 877 signatories, with the anti-dualling petition only getting 184 signatories.

People like the easy option, it would be more convenient for drivers to have 2 lanes on the ring road, but it is not the answer.

Although dualling may temporarily ease congestion on the ring road, the dualling would also unleash suppressed demand, so increasing the number of vehicle journeys along it.

The millions of pounds required for such a project could be used instead to invest funds in public transport to help reduce congestion on the current ring road.

One radical alternative would be the tram system called for by Green candidate for York Central, Andy Chase who says:

"We believe that a tram system could be at the centre of a traffic-busting overhaul for the transport system for York that is a far better option than environmentally-damaging dualling of the Outer Ring Road. The proposals in the report to York City Council are far less expensive that the minimum £150m that dualling would cost. With a frequent shuttle service instead of just the hourly train to Scarborough, the new line would attract far more people and fully justify the investment in new station facilities."

(Full story at http://york.greenparty.org.uk/news/68)

Please take a minute to sign the petition before it closes on August 9th.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/noA1237dualling/

Conference

I've decided to go to GP conference, despite the high fees on top of accommodation and travel. The registration fees are on a sliding scale based on income, which is fare enough, but perhaps there should also be consideration to the distance traveled and whether you require accommodation. I am only going for a couple of days, but with everything thrown in it likely to cost me about £200.

I have never been to conference before but feel the GP is at a turning point and it is important that as many grass roots members as possible turn up and get involved.

Weather: Yesterday and today rain, clouds and a little sun.
Listening to: Planet Rock, okay now I'm not Status Quo has come on, so instead I'll pop on 2 Many DJs

Interview with Ashley Gunstock

Ashley has given an interview to politics.co.uk http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/legal-and-constitutional/feature-green-party-leadership-election-$1234509.htm

Lambeth Conference / Green Leadership

I won't go over the arguments about hypocrisy again which I outlined when the Lambeth conference started. http://thelifeofmrandyc.blogspot.com/2008/07/let-he-without-sin-throw-first-stone.html I will just say that it has come as no surprise that the Archbishop of Canterbury has put appeasing the bigots above gay rights.

Peter Tatchell concisely sums up the situation:

“The Lambeth Conference seems more interested in appeasing homophobes within the church than in defending the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people,” said queer human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of OutRage!

“The Archbishop of Canterbury is putting church unity before gay equality. There should be no collusion with anti-gay bishops who support the imprisonment of gay people and the banning of gay churches.

“Dr Rowan Williams would never appease racists or anti-Semites. Why, then, is he seeking to accommodate within the Anglican Communion boastful homophobes like the Archbishops of Nigeria and Uganda?”

http://www.petertatchell.net/religion/lambethconferenceanglicanshomophobes.htm

The problems of internal democracy in the Green Party has now made the national press - http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/pandora-leadership-election-takes-a-nasty-turn-for-the-green-party-882620.html You will not be surprised to learn than I was one of the members who signed the letter of protest.

Weather: Cooler, a little bit of sun and rain
Listening to: Planet Rock